Father’s Day Sustainability Lessons We Accidentally Learnt From Our Dads
Before sustainable fashion became a hashtag and capsule wardrobes became a Pinterest goal, there was Dad. With his 1985 shirt still going strong, jeans that told a hundred stories, a striped shirt that worked overtime between office hours and evening parties, and a deep mistrust of washing machines, Dad was unknowingly living the eco-life - long before we tried to crop it, thrift it, or post about it.
You think Dad doesn’t know fashion? Think again.
He just doesn’t try to be fashionable. He is. Cool, calm, and unbothered by trends, his style is rooted in practicality, comfort, and a quiet kind of confidence that says, “This works, why change it?” He’s the man who’ll pair socks with sandals, but somehow make it feel like a power move. Who’ll wear the same polo for years, and it never looks out of place?
This Father’s Day, let’s celebrate the original icon, from whom we've picked up timeless sustainability lessons without even realizing it. Here’s also a gift guide lovingly put together by Team Nete during one of our “What should we get Dad?” chats. Our curation isn’t about replacing his favorite shirt (we wouldn’t dare). It’s about adding a thoughtful twist to his traditional values - gifts that are conscious, comfortable, and made to last, just like him. Whether it's an upgrade to his everyday basics, something to elevate Sunday brunches, or just a soft, breathable piece he’ll wear on repeat, our picks are a nod to his unfussy, unshakeable sense of style.
This year, let’s gift him something that matches his vibe: timeless, functional, and full of quiet swagger.
1. "Why is the fan on if no one’s in the room?"
The OG energy audit.
Before carbon footprints made headlines, Dad was there, turning off lights like a ninja. Whether it was the fan, the geyser, or the TV playing to an invisible audience, nothing escaped his keen energy-saving instincts. Sustainability? More like Dad logic.
2. "That’s not old. That’s broken in."
Eight sweaters, zero new purchases.
Dads don’t buy new winter wear. They inherit it. From their fathers, uncles, neighbors, cousins, and possibly ghosts. Slightly itchy? Absolutely. Still warm? Always. Same with that chequered shirt that has been in his wardrobe since you were a child. Where did it even come from? That hand-me-down sweater or don’t-know-the-origin-story shirt collection belongs to the most low-key vintage archives before vintage was cool.
3. "Don’t wash that yet. You just wore it yesterday."
The accidental conservationist.
He wasn’t being lazy. He was water-wise. Why wash something that doesn’t smell? Laundry happened on a schedule (usually set by your mother). But Dad? He believed in the sniff test, and honestly, he was right. The planet thanks him.
4. "This shirt? Had it since college."
The sacred wardrobe piece.
Every dad has that one shirt. Faded in all the right places, probably immortalised in every family photo, and off-limits. No one knows where it came from. No one dares throw it away. It’s not clothing. It’s legacy.
Band Collar Shirt Set Made from handwoven cotton Mul; he will refuse to come out of it for the next 50 years!
5. "Jeans aren’t meant to look new."
Distressed before it was cool.
Rips, frays, mystery stains from that one road trip in '98…Dad’s jeans lived. They survived bikes, BBQs, and every household repair mission. Fast fashion? Never heard of it. These denims aged like fine wine and refused to die.
Vintage Wash Jeans are the classic pair of straight-fitting pants, but made in 100% cotton denim. Now this is what we call sustainably chic!
6. "Fix it. Don’t throw it."
The repair-and-rewear philosophy.
Zippers were fixed, buttons re-sewn, socks darned, and shoes re-soled. No judgment, just function over fashion. He saw the potential in every ‘damaged’ item and taught us the magic of second chances. And a well-stocked toolbox. Here are some timeless, classic designs to go perfectly with his ‘fix it, don’t throw it’ vibe:
7. "Does it still work? Save it."
The anti-upgrade attitude.
While the world rushed to acquire the latest gadgets, phones, and watches, Dad stood firm with his trusty decade-old phone, a belt from another era, and a wallet held together by sheer willpower. For him, function always trumped flash. Why replace what’s not broken? Come to think of it, his loyalty to the long-lasting wasn’t just frugal. It was beautifully sustainable.
Ainu Appliqué Shirt for the dad who isn’t a classic ‘blue’ kind of guy, and can pull something off a bit differently.
8. "Wear it till it becomes you."
Style by repetition.
Dads don’t follow trends. They outlast them. His wardrobe was curated with the precision of a monk - 10 shirts, 3 trousers, 1 belt, 0 complaints. He wore his clothes till they practically became part of his personality. Honestly? Iconic. If he is the classic’ guy, here are some classic pieces with a chic new twist he will love.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, DAD - THE ORIGINAL SLOW FASHION ICON
Sustainability isn’t about having the perfect wardrobe. It’s about having a meaningful one. It’s about making what we have last longer, wasting less, and celebrating what’s truly timeless. And no one lived it better than our dads. (Whether they meant to or not.)
So Happy Father’s Day to the men who wore the same clothes for 30 years and made it look easy. You walked so that slow fashion could run.
Here’s to shopping consciously, dressing timelessly, and staying rooted.
With love,
Team Nete
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